Improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating-gas



NAPETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C,

l waited tate @anni l 691i tint., l

HENRY atontour,A OFTROLNEW YORK.

Letters Patent N 107 ,208, dated''eptembcr 6, 187 l IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS POR THE MANUFCTURE 0I' ILLUMINATING GAS.

The Schedule referredA to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

accompanying drawing which makes part of this specil ,flcatlom and in which- Figure l represents an elevation of the hydraulic main, and a portion of its dip-pipes, of a gas appaiatus, embracing my improvements;

Figure 2 represents a verticalsection; and

Figure 3, a horizontal section of the same.

My invention relates to a method of relieving the retorts of pressure in the manufacture of gas; and

Itconsists inalternately raising and lowering the level ofthe same body of water or tar, or both, inthe hydraulic main for the purpose of sealing and uusealing the dip-pipes in the operation of charging or withdrawing the charge from the retorts without changing or removing the sealing-Huid from said main, thereby using `the same lluid continuously and dispensing with the necessity of having to draw it therefrom or to replenish the main with fresh water every time the dippipes are sealed to charge or to withdraw the charge of the retorts. Moreover, by thus using the same body of liuid as the sealing and uusealing medium, the tar which is formed from the coal and passes into the main with the gas, finally takes the placeof the water or other fluid used at the connncncement ofthe operation, andA thus the roasting process is made the means ol producing and supplying the sealing-duid in the main, because the tar will accumulate in the main and take the place of the water as it decreases, (by evaporation or otberwise,) and will be supplied and maintained always in suticient quantity to have an iniiow and an outtlow iu the same main to produce the desired effect without removingl it therefrom or increasing its bulk by outward supply.'

The accom pan yin g drawing representsI the hydraulic main ofa gas apparatus to which my improvement is applied, and, as the retorts-and their connection with the main may be of any suitable construction and arrangement, the representation and description of the entire apparatus are not deemed necessary to enable a skillful artisan to apply lny improvement.

'lhe hydraulic main A and its dip-pipes, B, are coustructcd and connected with the retorts, so as to communicate with each other in the usual manner.

lhe relievilig-apparatus consists of achamber or section, C, connectedwit-h the main andiorming part theieol, within which a plunger, D, is arranged, 'seas vllldllllltll'.

to be elevated and depressed. This auxiliary chamber C, for convenience, may be' arranged at one end ofthe inain, so as to forma-coutiuuation thereof, or maybe inserted at one or more points in the main,4 or it may be arranged at the side and communicate therewith by branch pipes and the plunger D made to work in said chamber, so as. to increase or diminish the height of the liquid in the main.

In the example shown, this is accomplished by a screw-stein, E, to which the plunger is attached, and, asthe screw-stem passes through a female screw in the screw-capii" of the chamber C, it is obvious that turning a hand-wheel, G, ofthe stem E. to the right, will cause the plunger to displace the'liquid in the chamber in a proportion equal to itsarea and cause it to llow into the main and rise above the dip-pipes, so as to sulnnerge and seal their open ends, andthus out otl" communication between the main and the open air when the lids of the retorts are removed, and upon turning the handle to the left the plunger will be withdrawn, as shown by dotted lilies in lig. 2, and the liquid will l'low back again into the chamber and occupy the space' vacated bythe plunger and bringits level below the ends of the dip-pipes, thus opening communication with the 'retorts to allow the gas to pass more freely into the main. In this way the same body of tbeiluid iu the main is used over and over again for the purpose of scaling and unsealing the dip-pipes, and, as this is done by the alternate projection or immersion and withdrawal of a body into and from said lluid, very little time is lost in making this change; and, moreover, the use of the same body of liquid to produce differentlevels'in its bulk in relation to the dip-pi pes, saves much time which would be occupied in drawing oli` and re-` plenishing the liquid toacct'nnplishl this result, besides being much surer in its operation, therebeiug no small valves or vents to be obstructed.

Iulilling the hydraulicinain to commence making gas, the plunger is lowered tothe bottom of the chan-1- ber and the water is introduced until the lower ends of the dip-pipes are submerged to the proper depth. The retorts are then charged with coal and closed, when the plunger is withdrawn andthe dip-pipes uncovered, and, commul'iication with the lretorts being ti'ee, the pressure therein is relieved and the gas and tar pass into the main asf-ast as formed from the coal or coke. This conmnmieatiou, whilev relieving the pressure, preventsfto a great extent, the format-ion of tixeclcarbou in the retorts. Tue plunger lnay be operated by a lever or other suitable means. The gasl passes out of the main by a supply-pipe in the usual The surplus tar from the retorts will pass outof the main through outlets provided for that purpose iu any convenient manner.

l am aware ot' George A. McIllhennys patent of J une 18th, 1867, for ljueventiug the formation of' curbon in the retorts in the process of nmnuincturiug illuminating-gus, und l'or sealing and uuseuliug the dippilws, nud therefore do not cluiin Suid invention.

`Having described niy invention,

1. 'l he tlnid in bheiuuin caused to maint-nin dilerent levels therein for the purpose of sealing und uusenling the dip-pipes by means ot'u plunger, or its equivalent,

rprojected into or ngninst the body of' the luid mul withdrawn therefrom, als herein described.

2. 1n combination with thehydrnulic main A of' :L gas-mnuuncturiug appuratus,an auxiliary receiving,r

und displacing chamber, C, for the uid in said main, and a, plunger, D, or other device operatingus herein described.

3. In a. hydraulic nmin, A, having sealing and uusaiing dip-pipes, B, using the saune body'oi' liquid continuously to seal undunseal Suid pipes for the purpose described, without drawing off said liquid from the main or replenshing it to accomplish such result, as

described. Y I

In testimony whereof' I have hereunto set my hand. Witnesses: HENRY G. LUDLOW.

M. D.ScHo0NMAKER, GHAS. H. HARTNEY. 

